A horseracing mystery by Dick Francis and Felix Francis
After a successful eleven-year career as a jockey in England (during which he became one of Britain's leading National Hunt jockeys and a champion steeplechaser, riding as jockey to the Queen Mother. Queen Elizabeth), Dick Francis wrote his first book, an autobiography (The Sports of Queens), which led to a job on a London newspaper as a racing correspondent. In 1982, he published his first mystery book that dealt with crime in the horse-racing world. Through a publishing career of nearly 40 books, Francis’ wife, Mary, was his researcher, proofreader and biggest fan.
Mary died in 2000 and Dick, heartbroken, virtually gave up writing. Six years later, their son Felix talked his dad into writing again and they collaborated on Dead Heat. Herein, is my review of this book.
Synopsis of Dead Heat
The main character in Dead Heat is Max Moreton. Max is locally known as a celebrity chef, enjoying success in his horse-racing themed restaurant in Newmarket called The Hay Net. Max also frequently caters special meals at nearby racetracks. His troubles begin when he caters a dinner at Newmarket races where dozens of guests end up with food poisoning. Max cannot figure out what went wrong.
But, that incident was just the beginning of Max’s problems. The very next day, he caters a VIP lunch in one of the special boxes at Newmarket races, and he is nearly killed in an explosion. It suddenly becomes time for Max to start trying to figure out what is going on and why it seems as though someone is trying to kill him.
Summary
The clever plot of Dead Heat has some interesting and some quirky characters (there is the laughing lawyer for one) and a romantic interest between Max and a beautiful viola player from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London who originally starts out to sue him! In addition, the reader gets to enjoy the ambience of the world of haute cuisine.
I enjoyed this first collaboration of Dick Francis with his son Felix. The team went on to publish 3 more books together. Since Dick’s death at age 89 in 2010, Felix Francis has continued on in the same vein, writing horse-racing mysteries.
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*Book Review of ‘Dead Heat by Dick & Felix Francis was written by Wednesday Elf
Sounds like a great book and I do admire the father & son writing team.
ReplyDeleteHaving been a huge fan of Dick Francis' books, I was delighted to see his son getting him to continue on writing after Mary died and then continue his dad's legacy writing in the same genre.
DeleteSounds like an interesting mystery. I really enjoyed the history of Dick Francis that you gave us. I remember Ray used to read all his books.
ReplyDeleteI've read and re-read Dick Francis' books many times (I own them all) and now enjoy those written by son Felix.
DeleteI know you are a fan of both Dick and Felix Francis’ books, and this one sounds like it has a great plot. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Margaret. Thanks for visiting my book review.
DeleteI love stories about Horse Racing. The back story about the authors makes these books extra compelling. When there’s a horse racing movie on I rarely miss them.
ReplyDeleteI did not know of your interest in horse racing, Barbara. Then you most likely would enjoy the Dick and Felix Francis mysteries.
DeleteOh this is another book for my granddaughter, she love horses and horse stories. I like mysteries so this is a book for the two of us for sure! Thanks Pat!
ReplyDelete